Short-term β-carotene supplementation of lactating mothers consuming diets low in vitamin A

We have previously shown that β-carotene supplementation of the diets of healthy U.S. mothers increases serum and milk β-carotene concentrations. Building on these results, we investigated the possibility that β-carotene supplementation could enhance the vitamin A status of mothers and their nursing infants. Three 30-mg doses of β-carotene were administered on 3 consecutive days to 44 lactating mothers who had vitamin-A-poor diets. Concentrations of maternal serum and milk carotenoids and retinol were evaluated at baseline and after 2 and 3 days of supplementation. Infant serum carotenoids and retinol were measured at baseline and 2 days following maternal supplementation. β-Carotene supplementation markedly elevated maternal serum and milk β-carotene concentrations (nine- and sevenfold, respectively) and resulted in smaller, transient increases of α-carotene, lycopene, and β-cryptoxanthin concentrations in maternal serum. Maternal serum and milk retinol were unchanged in response to the treatment. In contrast, maternal β-carotene supplementation significantly increased infant serum retinol (P ≤ 0.001) and β-carotene concentrations remained unchanged. These results imply that breast milk β-carotene can supply retinol for the nursing infant. Further research is needed to identify the site of bioconversion of milk-derived β-carotene to retinol and to describe the factors that regulate this process. Copyright (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Inc.